Dish TV hikes subscription charges

MUMBAI: Moving towards its guidance of 6–7 per cent growth in its average revenue per user (ARPU) in FY16, direct-to-home (DTH) player Dish TV has increased subscription tariff across most of its packages in North India.

While the price hike ranges from 3–7 per cent, in the 42 cities of DAS Phases I and II, where Dish TV has already introduced a differential pricing, the new tariff has been realigned with the new prices to keep a premium of Rs 10.

The new tariff hike was enforced with effect from midnight 4 August. Subscription pack prices in the 42 cities are now calculated on the basis of the revised price. This ranged from a 3-4 per cent increase.

The price of existing HD add-on packs has been increased by 5–7 per cent.

Dish TV has not introduced any price hike for Zing subscribers.

TelevisionPost.com had earlier reported that the company would introduce price increase in packages before the festive season.

Dish TV’s consolidated ARPU in the fiscal first quarter was at Rs 173. It is targeting ARPU growth of 6 per cent in FY16.

Dish TV’s HD subscriber population is increasing but this upside in ARPU is somewhat muted, with Zing accounting for 22 per cent of the company’s incremental subscriber addition. Zing addresses low-cost regional-language subscribers.

In February this year, Dish TV had increased its pack prices by 3–8 per cent. Prior to that in August last year, it had increased the tariff by 5–7 per cent.